June update: Gorge construction underway on I-84 and the Historic Highway
Construction season has begun for multiple projects in the Columbia River Gorge between I-205 and Hood River. We are improving Interstate 84 and the Historic Columbia River Highway, and extending the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail. Travelers should plan for delays as each project moves further into construction season, especially on weekends when traffic volumes increase. Updates in this email include:
- Rolling slowdowns for I-84 during tunnel construction
- Multnomah Falls Timed Use Permits are required at I-84 Exit 31 until Sept. 2, 2024
- U.S. 30 sign upgrades begin soon
- Work to repair the aging Ruckel Creek culvert begins soon
- Improvements to Cascade Avenue at Rand Road in Hood River now complete
- Nearby work: I-84 corridor will close to rail and highway traffic overnight July 13
Plan ahead by visiting TripCheck.com for real-time traffic impacts. Schedules are subject to change and weather dependent.
Rolling slowdowns on I-84 for tunnel construction
This week, crews are rock scaling to remove loose rock from slopes, and installing rock bolts on the west end of the Mitchell Point Tunnel. For safety, we will use rolling slowdowns in both directions of I-84 to create 20-minute windows where there is no traffic.
Plan for delays 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 26 and Thursday, June 27.
What to expect during rolling slowdowns:
- Pilot cars slow down traffic on I-84.
- Rolling slowdowns begin eastbound at Cascade Locks. Traffic will be held for up to 20 minutes at all eastbound on-ramps between Cascade Locks (Exit 44) and Viento State Park (Exit 56).
- Rolling slowdowns begin westbound at Mosier. Traffic will be held for up to 20 minutes at all westbound on-ramps between Mosier (Exit 69) and Viento State Park (Exit 56).
The Mitchell Point Tunnel segment of the Historic Highway State Trail is slated to open fall 2024. I-84 East Exit 58 remains closed for construction. We will share the grand opening date as soon as it is available.
Multnomah Falls Timed Use Permits are required at I-84 Exit 31 until Sept. 2, 2024
The U.S. Forest Service has re-instated its seasonal Multnomah Falls Timed Use Permit system for I-84 Exit 31. Until Sept. 2, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., a Timed Use Permit is required for each personal vehicle accessing Multnomah Falls from I-84 Exit 31. Permits must be obtained in advance. These permits only apply to visitors using the parking lot on the Interstate at Exit 31.
A limited number of permits will be available for same-day pickup without a transaction fee at the Gateway to the Gorge Visitor Center in Troutdale and the Cascade Locks Historical Museum. There is a $2 transaction fee for permits obtained online.
Flaggers direct traffic at Multnomah Falls on the Historic Highway
 Looking up at the temporary work platform under the west viaduct. Railroad flaggers are used for safety when working around train tracks.
Crews have begun repairs to the west viaduct on the Historic Columbia River Highway at Multnomah Falls. In advance of a closure of the viaduct this fall, work is occurring under the structure.
While the west viaduct restoration is underway, travelers can expect:
- Nighttime single lane closures: intermittently through fall 2026.
- West viaduct closure: October 2024 to Memorial Day 2025.
Learn more about the viaduct repair by watching this video.
U.S. 30 sign upgrades begins soon
 Project overview showing the locations between Troutdale and Hood River where we will be replacing or adding signs.
Starting in July, we are installing new curve warning signs, upgrading existing signs, and replacing signals in about 50 locations to improve safety on the Historic Highway between Troutdale and Hood River. The busier intersections where we are installing signs include:
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Troutdale: The Historic Highway between Stark Street and Jordan Road, near the Sandy River Bridge.
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Hood River: The intersections of:
- Cascade Avenue and 20th Street,
- S. 30 and OR 35,
- S. 30 (Oak Street) and 13th Street (signal replacement).
In 2024, travelers can expect:
- Intermittent flagging during sign installations.
Work to repair the aging Ruckel Creek culvert begins soon
We are repairing a culvert that carries Ruckel Creek under I-84 just west of Cascade Locks to prevent potential flooding and roadway damage. Construction begins in July. Travelers on I-84 can expect:
- Shoulder closures and periodic lane closures on I-84 near Ruckel Creek.
Improvements to Cascade Avenue at Rand Road in Hood River now complete
The intersection of U.S. 30 (Cascade Ave.) and Rand Road has been rebuilt. The project aligned the north and south roads of the intersection, added a traffic signal, improved access with new sidewalks and curb ramps accessible to people with disabilities, improved storm water drainage, and added new street-lighting. These changes will increase safety and improve traffic operations and accessibility for all travelers.
Thank you for your patience!
Nearby work: I-84 corridor will close to rail and highway traffic overnight July 13
A five-mile stretch of Interstate 84 will be closed in both directions to rail and highway traffic overnight from 11 p.m. Saturday, July 13 to noon Sunday, July 14 for graffiti cleaning and trash removal between I-5 and I-205.
In addition to the I-84 closure in Portland, northbound Interstate 5 will be closed over the Marquam Bridge with traffic diverted onto northbound Interstate 405. Crews will take advantage of the overnight closure to carry out bridge maintenance activities. The Morrison Bridge and North Weidler Street on-ramps to northbound I-5 will remain open.
The coordinated effort by six agencies -- ODOT, Union Pacific Railroad, TriMet, the Portland Bureau of Transportation, Metro and Multnomah County -- will target clean- ups in one of the most visible parts of the Portland area and one particularly hard hit by graffiti and trash.
More information on work scheduled for 2024 and beyond is available on our project website. Stay tuned for more email updates!
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